The hottest Therapy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

Q&A: helping a loved one with anxiety; Ozempic hair loss; lung cancer screening; & heart rate variability

Are You Okay? • 439 implied HN points • 22 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Medication Anxiety Therapy COVID-19
  1. During the pandemic, many experienced heightened anxiety, including fears around COVID, leading to mental health challenges that may persist post-pandemic. It's crucial to validate experiences, offer empathy, and seek professional help to address anxiety disorders effectively.
  2. Examine potential side effects of medications like GLP1 agonists such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and others, which may cause mild hair loss. Healthcare providers should consider these effects when prescribing and monitor patients accordingly.
  3. The approach to addressing health-related anxiety is multi-faceted, involving psychotherapy, medication, trauma therapy, or even exposure to the feared illness under professional guidance, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive approach to treatment.

Saturday PITT Review - February 5 to 9, 2024

Parents with Inconvenient Truths about Trans (PITT) • 589 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Gender Ideology Parenting Therapy Transgender Mental health
  1. The post provides a weekly roundup of articles, books, podcasts, and social media related to gender ideology.
  2. Therapy First has grown significantly and offers support for families struggling with gender-related issues.
  3. A therapist in Washington raised concerns about pressure to transition young patients, adding to a growing conversation about gender transitions.

A Haircut Can Save a Life

Seven Senses • 479 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Self-care Therapy Community support Interpersonal Relationships
  1. Small actions can have a big impact on people's lives, just like a simple haircut. Listening and being present for someone can truly make a difference during tough times.
  2. We often underestimate our influence on others. Kind words and thoughtful gestures can lift someone's spirits and change their day, sometimes even their life.
  3. You don't need to do grand things to create change. Our everyday interactions can have meaningful ripple effects that connect us more deeply with others.

An Antidote for Wound Collecting

The Dose • 589 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Self-Improvement Wellbeing Therapy Parenting
  1. Focusing on strengths over fragility can help us grow and feel better.
  2. Creating an identity around victimhood can lead to rumination, lack of empathy, and a constant need for recognition of suffering.
  3. Reframing our life story as a hero's journey can increase well-being, resilience, and help us see obstacles as challenges to overcome.
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A Sober Look at MDMA Therapy: What Happens Next?

Tripsitter • 119 implied HN points • 18 Jun 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychedelics Therapy PTSD Research Safety
  1. MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD is facing a critical juncture with the FDA, with potential historical implications for rescheduling and funding sources.
  2. There is ongoing debate on the safety, efficacy, and ethical conduct of MDMA-AT, with a focus on the role of organizations like Lykos/MAPS.
  3. Despite the current challenges and controversies, the testimonies of individuals like Cristina Pearse underscore the potential transformative impact of MDMA-AT and the imperative to enhance safety measures.

Law enforcement seizures of psychedelic mushrooms skyrocket; Could psychedelics lead to better sex? And will CA be the next state to launch a psychedelics program?

The Microdose • 432 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychedelics Mental health Research Legislation Therapy
  1. Law enforcement seizures of psychedelic mushrooms have significantly increased over the years, indicating a potential rise in availability and use.
  2. Research suggests that psychedelics like psilocybin can lead to improvements in sexual functioning and satisfaction.
  3. California is considering launching a state-regulated program for therapeutic use of psychedelics, potentially making it the first to focus explicitly on psychedelic therapy.

AI therapists, aging selfies and our shifty, synthetic future

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 339 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Internet Therapy Social media Artificial Intelligence
  1. AI voice scams are emerging, making it hard to trust any media, even phone calls from loved ones
  2. People are turning to AI chatbots for therapy, sparking questions about the essence of human relationships and personal growth
  3. Online groups aiming to improve dating often lead to harmful consequences despite good intentions

Are You Anxious?

Are You Okay? • 878 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Anxiety Therapy Physical health Self-awareness
  1. Anxiety is a natural part of being human and has been essential for our survival throughout history.
  2. Anxiety can have serious negative effects if triggered excessively or inappropriately over time, impacting both mental and physical health.
  3. Understanding your baseline anxiety level, triggers, coping mechanisms, and seeking help when needed are crucial steps in managing anxiety and improving overall well-being.

Boundaries, property, and other words I don't love using about my heart

Soaring Twenties • 69 implied HN points • 29 Nov 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Therapy Boundaries Relationships Emotional Wellness
  1. People often talk a lot about boundaries in relationships, but this language can make it hard to truly connect with each other. Instead of just drawing lines, we should open up and allow for more intimacy.
  2. The idea of having boundaries can protect us from being hurt, but it might also keep us isolated and lonely. It's important to balance protecting ourselves with allowing others in.
  3. Learning to communicate our feelings directly, rather than relying on boundary talk, can help build deeper connections and mutual understanding in relationships.

Movers and Shakers: Losing Your Voice

Rory’s Always On Newsletter • 793 implied HN points • 15 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Parkinson's Treatment Therapy
  1. The podcast episode discusses the lesser-known symptom of speech impairment in Parkinson's disease.
  2. People with Parkinson's, like Mark Mardell and Gillian Lacey-Solymar, can experience significant voice changes.
  3. DBS treatment for Parkinson's can have side effects on speech, but specialized training like LSVT can help improve voice quality.

Alchemy of the Psyche: Exploring Shadow Work & Psychedelics

Tripsitter • 199 implied HN points • 01 Apr 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychedelics Shadow work Integration Therapy
  1. Shadow work involves acknowledging and integrating suppressed traits, desires, and emotions that influence our thoughts and actions.
  2. The human consciousness comprises layers including the ego, the persona, and the collective unconscious, each influencing our personality and interactions.
  3. Suppressing the shadow can lead to projecting undesirable traits onto others, disconnection, biases, impatience, victim mentality, and narcissism.

Mixing antidepressants and psychedelics: 5 Questions for psychopharmacologist Kelan Thomas

The Microdose • 589 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication Psychedelics Therapy Treatment Safety
  1. Psychedelic clinical trials often exclude participants taking SSRIs to isolate the effects of the single drug being studied.
  2. The main risk of mixing SSRIs and psychedelics is serotonin toxicity, but in healthy volunteers, the risk seems low.
  3. Tapering off SSRIs can have risks, including the return of depression or anxiety symptoms and serotonin discontinuation syndrome.

A cornucopia of new bills; Canadians support end-of-life psilocybin therapy; and tempering the hype

The Microdose • 294 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychedelics Therapy Hype Research Mental health
  1. At least 10 states have introduced new legislation related to psychedelics since the beginning of the year.
  2. Canadians show strong support for end-of-life psilocybin therapy.
  3. There is a growing movement to critically examine and temper the hype surrounding psychedelics, focusing on ethical and political implications.

EMDR Blew My Mind. Literally.

Ladyparts • 559 implied HN points • 17 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Therapy Trauma
  1. The author tried EMDR therapy to address recurring PTSD symptoms and found it incredibly helpful in overcoming intrusive memories and functioning better in daily life.
  2. A friend recommended EMDR therapy based on their positive experience with a specialist who helped them cope with traumatic loss, highlighting the transformative potential of this approach.
  3. The author now provides paid content but offers free access to those unable to afford it, showing a commitment to sharing informative, science-based stories while acknowledging the importance of financial support.

Can AIs provide psychedelic therapy? 5 Questions for chatbot ChatGPT

The Microdose • 550 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🕹 Technology AI Psychedelics Chatbots Therapy Ethics
  1. ChatGPT states it may not be able to provide psychedelic-assisted therapy like a human therapist due to the need for personal connection and emotional support.
  2. Ethical and legal considerations in using AI for therapy involve informed consent, data privacy, liability, regulation, and ensuring access for all patients.
  3. Mystical experiences on psychedelics are described as profound, ineffable, and life-changing, involving a sense of unity with the universe and a deep emotional impact.

Psychedelics as Catalysts for Recovery

Deep Fix • 471 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Addiction Recovery Psychedelics Therapy Holistic health
  1. Psychedelics can be powerful tools for helping individuals facing addiction move towards recovery by promoting neural growth and restoring the gut-brain connection.
  2. Psychedelics should not be seen as shortcuts in recovery, but as catalysts that help individuals confront their darkness and engage in the healing process.
  3. By supporting the diversity of life within personal ecosystems, psychedelics can ignite 'second-stage recovery' and provide hope to those facing addiction.

What’s happening inside the brain on LSD? Colorado psychedelics legislation flies through state Senate, and Oregon gets its first licensed testing lab

The Microdose • 471 implied HN points • 28 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychedelics Legislation Therapy Research Mental health
  1. Scientists study brain activity on LSD and find altered connectivity and self-inhibition.
  2. Colorado Senate passes SB 290 to implement Proposition 122 for psilocybin services in the state.
  3. Oregon licenses its first psilocybin testing lab, but high costs may drive some practitioners underground.

Psilocybin sessions have begun in Oregon, DC-based PAC New Approach enters Massachusetts, and a tangle of patent claims

The Microdose • 452 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychedelics Therapy Cancer Treatment
  1. Psilocybin sessions have begun in Oregon under the state's regulated access system.
  2. DC-based PAC New Approach is behind a psychedelics ballot initiative in Massachusetts.
  3. A lawsuit involving patent claims over a synthetic psychedelic compound has added complexity in the field of psychedelics.

Thoughts on Therapy

The Carousel • 33 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Therapy Coaching Religion Personal Growth
  1. Therapy often feels repetitive and doesn't lead to real solutions. It can sometimes feel like you're just getting vague compliments without any real help.
  2. Career coaching can actually be more useful than traditional therapy. It focuses on specific goals and practical improvements in your life.
  3. Organized religion is seen as a deeper, more meaningful practice than therapy. It provides structure and purpose that therapy lacks.

Insomnia Advice

Thing of Things • 176 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Insomnia Sleep Therapy Medication Advice
  1. If you have occasional insomnia, believing that lying down with your eyes closed can be almost as beneficial as sleeping might help.
  2. For chronic insomnia, consider trying antidepressants or other sleeping medications under your doctor's guidance. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is also effective.
  3. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia involves following a strict routine, including tracking sleep patterns, setting a consistent wake-up time, and avoiding napping during the day.

Story Thirty-Seven

Stories From The Rail • 219 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Therapy Parenting Trauma Personal Growth
  1. Eulogies can be a way to cope with OCD and suicidal ideation, helping in the battle with intrusive thoughts and fears.
  2. Mental health challenges like OCD and suicidal ideation are medical conditions that require understanding, support, and proper treatment.
  3. Parenting and focusing on loved ones can ground and provide strength in battling against compulsions and intrusive thoughts.

Friday Q&A: on antidepressants; inattention; social anxiety; & “am I taking too many meds?”

Are You Okay? • 359 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Medication Therapy Anxiety Depression
  1. Consider the option of seeking medication for managing depression symptoms if other interventions are not fully effective.
  2. Medication can be a valuable tool in a holistic approach to mental health, when used appropriately and under medical supervision.
  3. When facing intrusive thoughts and anxiety, techniques like recentering oneself and avoiding spirals can be helpful to regain focus.

Friday Q&A: about menopause providers; ozempic; when to see a therapist; & … do physical exams matter?

Are You Okay? • 359 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Menopause Weight Loss Therapy
  1. Finding a reputable menopause doctor can be done through organizations like the North American Menopause Society for certified practitioners or by educating your own doctor about the latest data on hormone replacement therapy.
  2. The use of Ozempic for weight loss raises ethical concerns for some individuals, especially if they have a history of yo-yo dieting. It's important to carefully consider the implications before starting this medication.
  3. The Q&A post covers various health topics like menopause providers, Ozempic use, seeing a therapist, and the relevance of physical exams, providing valuable insights for readers.

Attached.

Finding Joy • 176 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Relationships Therapy Self-awareness
  1. Neuroplasticity influences our relationships by shaping our attachment patterns from early experiences.
  2. Understanding your attachment style can help navigate relationships and develop self-awareness.
  3. Attachment styles are not fixed and can be modified through corrective experiences and forming new mental pathways.

My Left Shoulder Blade Is Possessed By a Minor Demon

Atlas of Wonders and Monsters • 814 implied HN points • 08 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Stress Mental health Self-care Anxiety Therapy
  1. The generalized stress demon doesn't thrive on specific events but lingers when an unsolved issue exists
  2. When facing stress, it's common for a mixture of factors to be the cause rather than a single source
  3. Learning to coexist with stress demons may involve accepting that sometimes they come and go without a clear solution

Loving amidst loss

Cozy Philosophy • 79 implied HN points • 19 Apr 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Grief Support Therapy Creativity Inspiration
  1. The author shares a heartfelt reflection on navigating loss and grief, finding a balance between supporting loved ones and self-care.
  2. Art and writing can aid in processing emotions during difficult times, serving as a means of expression and release.
  3. Community support and therapeutic help are highlighted as valuable resources for coping with heavy emotions and embracing different perspectives.

Is CBT Superior?

Mental Disorder • 275 implied HN points • 15 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Therapy Psychotherapy Efficacy
  1. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) may not be superior to other therapies for treating mental illnesses.
  2. Studies have shown that CBT is effective for depression but not significantly more effective than other psychotherapies.
  3. CBT's reputation as the "gold standard" may influence people to choose it, but other therapies may be just as effective.